Improvement in the manufacture of sheet-metal chains



-11 Sheets-Sheet 1.

1?. EGGS.- Manufacture of Sheet-Metal Chains. No. 202,528. Patented April 16, I878.

2- WW a r 2% I PETERS, FHQTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D O

11 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. EGGE. Manufacture of Sheet-Metal Chains. No. 202,528, V Patented April 16, 1878.

N FETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGMPHER, WASHI NGTON. D C.

11"Sheet.s-Sheet 4 I. EGGB. Manufacture of Sheet-Metal Ghains. No. 202,528 Patented April 16, 1878.

WITNESSES ZNVEJV'TOR BZI', fills Attorneys Fredrf'/E life Nv PETERS. PHOTOLITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON D C.

11 Sheets-Sheet 5.

F. EGG-B Manufacture of Sheet-Metal Chains. No. 202,528. Patented April 16,1878.

MPETERS. F'HOTO LIYHOGRAPHER. WASHXNGYOH, D C

11 Sheets-Sheet 6 F. EGGE. Manufacture of Sheet-Metal Chains. No. 202,528. I Patented April 16,1878.

. WITNESSES Q 1.7V VEJVTOR By its flttorne s,

N-FEYERS, P HQTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHKNGTON, D-C.

- 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 P. EGGE. Manufacture of Sheet-Metal Chains. No. 202,528. Patented April 16, 1878.

' WITNESSES Z 9 QW LNVENTOL Fredric/E By ink .Aztorneys,

ETERS F'iOTO LITHlGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 P. EGGE. Manufacture ofSheet-Me tal Chains.

No. 202,528. Patented April l6, I878.

":FETERS, PHOTO-LITNOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C.

11 Sheets-Sheet 10 v F. EGGE. Man ture. of Sheet-Metal Chains. No. 202, Patented April 16 I878.

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TV'lJl/WJS IR a B I Fredrldi E je 11Sheets-Sheet11 F. EGG-E.

Manufacture of Sheet-Metal Chains. No. 202,528. Patented April I6, 1878.

| I I I I l W1 TNESSES INVENTOR (a Barbe/6.1 2 6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRIC K EGGE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMITH 8r. EGGE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET-METAL CHAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,528, dated April 16, 1878; application filed December 21, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDRICK Eeen, of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Sheet-Metal Chains, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to the manufacture of chain from sheet or plate metal links. My

objects are rapidly and economically to form the chain, and automatically to produce a strong, neat, and uniformly-finished chain, without welding or riveting, from a sheet or sheets of metal.

My improvements, in the first place, and mainly, consist in a novel art of manufacturing chain, as will hereinafter more fully be set forth, by the connected and successive and repeated operations of continuouslyoperating mechanism, which first forms the separate flat partially-sh aped and unbent links thereof from sheet or plate metal; next, brings these links, one at a time, and in proper position, to a point at which they are to be united with each other; then connects them by looping or bending; and, finally, completely shapes the links, one after another, to form the chain.

My improvements also consist in novel methods of uniting and interloopin g or bending the links, and of completelyforming or shaping the links and finishing the chain; and, ftuther, in certain novel organizations of mechanisms and in combinations of devices, which will hereinafter first be described, andthen specifically be designated by the claims.

The accompanying drawings represent with sufficient fullness those portions or features which it is deemed necessary to show of a suitable organization of mechanism for carrying out my invention, all my improvements or means forcarrying them out being illustrated thereby, in connection with an ordinary vertical press.

Some of my improvements obviously, however, may be used without the others; and the invention, in part or parts, be carried out by mechanism differing somewhat from that therein shown and herein described, especially as to details of construction.

Some of the changes which may be made without departure. from the spirit and scope of my invention will be mentioned herein, while others more obvious would be suggested to a skillful workman, or one skilled in the art to which my invention pertains, simply by reading this specification and examining the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan or top view, Fig. 2 a front elevation, Fig. 3 an elevation of left-hand or receiving end, and Fig. 4 a rear elevation, of the machine. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the die block or bed with the gate and parts carried thereby removed, and the controlling uprights or guide-posts on which the gate slides in section.

The preceding figures are on a scale somewhat smaller than those which follow, and do not show the chain.

Fig. 6 is a view of one of the flat partiallyshaped links, as it is left by the punches and before it is connected with and bent into its place in the chain. Fig. 7 is a plan or top view of the die-bed, partly in section, on the line 1 1 of Fig. 8, with that portion of the mechanism mounted thereon which participates directly in uniting and bending the links and shaping the chain (shown in position) made from the flat partially-shaped unbent links previously punched from the sheetmetal blank or strip; Fig.8, a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan view, with portions broken away, and in section, as partly indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig. 10, with the chain and parts lying adjacent thereto similar, as far as shown, to Fig.

7, except that the chain is represented in the position which it is caused to assume immediately before a link is bent and united to the previously and last bent link, which, in Fig. 7, is shown as drawn back or retracted for the passage through its ends of the partiallyshaped flat or unbent link; Fig. 10, a vertical longitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view, partly in section, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 12, and generally similar to Figs. 7 and 9, showing the chain and parts operating thereon in the position assumed during the period that a link is compressed endwise to finish it, and at the time the bending of the last-connected link takes place; Fig. 12, a vertical longitudinal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is avertical transverse section through the dies and bending -block on the line 7 7 of Fig. 11, showing the flatlink feeding devices. Fig. 14 is a vertical longitudinal section through the center of the bending-block on the lines 2 2. of Fig. 7 and 4 4 of Fig. 9, with the chain removed to show more clearly the construction of the parts. Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section through the dies and bed on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 16 is a vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale, through the dies and bendingblock on the line 9 9 of Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a vertical longitudinal section, on the same scale, through the center of the bendingblock on the line 10 10 of Fig. 16, looking toward the ends of the dies contiguous to the bendingblock. Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the bender-head or inner end of the thrust-bar, and Fig. 19 is a plan view of the same.

A die block, frame, or bed, A, of proper construction for use in connection with an ordinary vertical press or punching-machine, is provided beneath the sliding or-reciprocating gate or punch-carrier B of such a press. This gate is shown in this instance as sliding upon controlling and guiding uprights, consisting of four posts, G G G 0 which, for the purpose of compactness and for convenience of illustration, are represented as mounted in the die bed or block A, whereas in practice the guides or warp for the gate form, as usual, part of or rest upon the press-frame upon which the dieblock'is supported, outside of said block, as is well understood. The die-block is of sufficient size and of the proper shape to support the various working parts of themechanism; and the gate B, as it is caused to slide up and down, as usual, gives, by suitable actuating devices, the desired movements to these parts, as will hereinafter sufficiently be explained.

The blank sheet, plate. or strip 1), of proper width and thickness, of brass, copper, German silver, iron, or other suitable metal or alloy, is fed over dies and beneath punches, hereinafter to be described, by suitable feeding mechanism, shown as consisting of two rolls, D D, the lower one, D, being supported so as to turn in fixed bearings in standards d, supported on the die-bed A, and the upper one, D being self-adjusting to suit the thick ness of the blank I). This upper roll is mounted in housings or bearings d, movable vertically to a limited extent on uprights or guideposts d secured at their lower ends in the standards (1, and at their upper ends fittedloosely to a cap-piece or connecting-plate, D into holes or sockets in which the posts project. Expansible or compressed springs 01 fitting around the posts (1 bear at the lower ends upon the adjustable boxes (1, and at the upper ends against shoulders or collars 01, upon the posts. A yoke, D is connected at its lower ends by its forks or branches with the sliding or adjustable boxes d,'and terminates at top, or is connected at the juncture of d serves to limit the movement of this le-,

ver in one direction. When the lever rests against this stop the lower portion of the curved incline or the thinnest portion of the cam is beneath the nose of the central arm of 'the yoke, and in this position the nose does not touch the lever. The roller D is left free to be forced downward by its springs (1 to adjust itself properly and bear with sufficient pressure upon the blank. When the feed of the blank is to be stopped, or it is to be removed, or anew blank is to be inserted between the rollers, the lever is, swung around to bring the upper portion of its incline or the thickest portion of the cam beneath the nose and lift the upper roller. The posts d are, by preference, provided with screw threads at and near their lower ends, where they pass into the standards (I, and with perforationsin their collars 01. for the reception of a rod for turning the posts, which may thus be screwed more or less into the female screws or caps formed in the standards, to increase or lessen the tension of the springs d and properly adjust the cappiece relatively to the yoke and cam-lever. Setscrews may be provided in the cap-piece above the tops of the posts, so as to work through the openings therein, terminating in the sockets for the upper ends of the posts, and bear upon their tops. In this manner, as the posts are lengthened or shortened by screwing them up or down in the standards d, the set-screws may correspondingly be manipulated, and thus a firm support of the cappiece upon the posts at the proper height secured. One of such screws is shown as forming the stop d The shafts of the feed-rolls D D at one end extend through their bearings and carry meshin ggear-wheels E c, which are actuated, through means of a ratchet-wheel, e, mounted on the shaft of the lower roll D, by a spring-pawl, E, carried by the reciprocating gate B. Backward movement of the ratchetwheel e is prevented by a spring-pawl, 6 is prevented by a spring-pawl, 6 mounted on the die-bed A. Near the end of each upward movement of the gate the pawl acts on the ratchet to turn the rollers and feed forward the blank to the punches and dies for punching the links from the blank, and in the downward stroke the pawl slips over the surface of the ratchetwheel.

Punches for cutting eyes or openings, and severing from the blank 12 the flat unbent and partially-shaped links represented by Fig. 6, are'carried by the gate B, below which they project, and to which they are properly secured in wellknown way. Two punches, or a twopart punch,B removes the metal to form the Wedge-shaped holes or eyes near the enlarged ends of the link, and a punch, B punches the link fromthe blank. The shapes of the punches and dies used in. connection with them correspond, of course, to the shape it is desired to give the link, and will readily be understood from an inspection of the link. The dies over and upon which the blank is fed by the feeding mechanism, and in connection with which the punches operate, are removably secured in the die-bed A in any suitable andcustomary way, such as by wedging in place. Suitable strippers, as usually employed with blankingdies, are used (though not shown in the drawings) to prevent the adherence of the blank sheet to the punches as they are retracted. The blank is fed forward between the strip pers and the dies. The dies are preferably made in two sections or layers, A A thus horizontally dividing them. The upper section or plate A may be said to constitute the die proper, as it is provided with the cavities or openings a a respectively corresponding in shape and size with the punches B and B and into these openings the punches project when the gate B is at the end of its downward stroke. These openings are of a size at the surface just large enough to receive and fit snugly upon the punches, and receive both the waste pieces punched out of the blanks to form the link eyes or openings and the links. Their walls diverge or expand slightly downward or toward the bottoms of the dies, so that the links and punchings from the eyes of the links are not jammed in the dies or held by frictional contact therein, but drop freely downward. The waste pieces or eye-punchings fall through the openings a in the lower section or supplementary portion A of the die, and thence pass by openings or passages a in the die-bed to any suitable receptacle. The links fall upon each other, with the lower one in a way or recess, a, formed by a groove in the under section A of the die. The links are in this way-brought in position to be fed forward, one at a time, by suitable means to bring them to the pointwhere they are bent, united together, and formed into a chain. By thus making the dies in sect-ions the accurate form 21- tion of the receiver and guideway a for the links is facilitated. I am enabled, with but slight trouble, to nicely fit an intermittinglyactuated push-bar or feeder, F, in this guideway, for moving forward the links at proper intervals, and also enabled to readily so construct the die-section as to facilitate the manipulation of the links to bring them in proper position for bending, &c., as hereinafter described. The bottom of the receiver and guideway is, in this instance, formed by a plate, F, removably dovetailed in the lower section of the die, and proj ecting outward some distance in front to form a support and guide for the feeder F, by which any twisting or springing of the feeder is prevented. In event of clogging of the feedway a by a bad blank, dirt,

or rust, &c., this plate F may be drawn out and the obstruction removed, the plate being then replaced and detachably secured by wed ging or otherwise, so as to hold it in place .to form the bottom of the feedway. This feeder -or pushing-finger is mounted upon a sliding bar or reciprocating carrier, F moving in a guide-slot, f, in the die-bed beneath the dies. The links, as they are punched, drop one upon another to the lower part of the link-die or cavity a, in which they rest, with the lowermost one supported directly upon the plate F or bottom of the guideway a. This way is covered by the upper section of the die, as shown, thus forming it into a channel open only at the ends, and where it is intersected at right angles by the link-die opening or cavity a. This link-receiver and feedin g-way or channel is made slightly wider than a link. It is also of a depth a little greater than the thickness of a link; or, in other words, the space between the plate F and the under surface of the upper section A of the die is a little more than is absolutely necessary to allow of the link being pushed through the channel.

It is necessary to give the links a quarterturn to bring them from a position with their sides or broad surfaces horizontal as they reach the feeding-channel to one in which their edges are horizontal and their sides vertical. This turn of each link takes place just previous to the bending of the link to interlock it with a previously-bent one, as hereinafter to be-described, and is in part accomplished during the latter part of, and at and immediately after, the completion of the traverse or feeding movement of the link, in this instance by the means and in the manner following: At the inner edge of the die, and at the side of the link-guideway and feeding-channel a, is a spring, f, coiled in a recess or seat in the lower die-section just at the edge of the channel Its free end is widened or flattened out, forming a yielding finger, which projects crosswise of the channel and beyond its termination, and intersects the line of travel of the links diagonally and at an inclinatlon to the perpendicular, operating upon them in turn as they are moved forward by their feeding mechanism. The broad end of the spring inclines inward from bottom to top, so that its upper edge projects inward across the path of the links to a greater extent than its lower edge. This spring-finger projects into what I term a bending-block, G, where the links are engaged with each other and bent. The links pass from the feeding-channel a into a receptacle formed bya recess or chamber, g,1n this block, in line with said channel. The bottom of this recess is below the level of the channel, so that the link, upon leaving the channel, drops downward slightly. At the end of the bending-block chamber opposite that nto which the spring f projects is another spring, f projecting crosswise of the chamber, so as to intersect the path of travel of the llllkS 1n a similar manner. This second spring projects outward into and crosswise of the chamber, both diagonally and at an inclination to the perpendicular, in the same way as the spring f. These two springs act on the opposite ends of the link, and give it, by the aid of a third spring, f a partial turn.

Owing to their peculiar shape, arrangement, and inclination, the springs f f 2 bear edgewise and slightly downward upon the link. This action gives the link a tendency to move both horizontally and vertically away from the springs, and, in connection with the spring f results in giving each link the necessary turn.

The springf serves to support the foremost end of the link while being turned. It is located at the same end of the bending-block chamber as the spring f. It is very thin, is bent, as shown by the drawings, projects at its end in the direction of the length of the link,bears edgewise on the bottom of the chamber, and is inclined or beveled from bottom to top, and brought to a point at its extreme end. Near the finish of the feed movement of the link it bears on the under side at one end, and about midway of its width, (or it may be somewhat nearer its edge, opposite that operated upon by the springs f f upon this spring. The link is in this manner caused with certainty to turn properlythatis, the edge opposite that borne upon by the turning springs is held up as the link is rocked.

To enable the links to be acted upon by the turning springs and facilitate the gradual and proper turning of the links, notches or recessesf f are form ed diagonally opposite each other in the bottom and top of the feed-channel, at its delivery end, (and in the upper and lower sections of the dies, respectively,)'the recess f being in the inner end and at one side of the bottom of the channel a, and the section A of the dies being cut away immediately above this channel or in its top and at the opposite edge. The wide ends of the links are in this manner accommodated, and the turning of each link begins before it entirely leaves the guiding and feed channels, but after it partially enters the bending-block chamber g, and passes at one end into the eye or through the link previously bent in the bendingblock, as hereinafter to be described.

Instead of the springs to turn the link, it is obvious that other means adapted to perform the turning operation may be employed. For instance, a swiveling griper or head with clam pin g-fin gers might be so located and automatically operated at intervals as to seize the front end of each link as it is properly advanced into the recessed bending-block, give it the required turn, and then release it.

The push-bar or feeding-finger F is beveled on top at its outer end to reduce its thickness at and near the end, so as to be a little thinner than a link, fits snugly between the sides or vertical walls of its guideway or the feedchannel a, and is, except at its end, of about equal thickness with the links. This construction prevents the finger from acting on more than one link at a time.

To prevent jamming, and to facilitate the feeding of the links from the cavity or opening a of the link-die, the bottom edge of the inside surface of the wall of its inner end (or that end next the bending-block) is tapered off or beveled for a short distance, as shown in Fig. 13, and more clearly in the enlarged view, Fig. 16.

The slide-bar F which carries the push-bar or feeding-finger F of the link-feeding mechanism, passes beneath the bending-block, and projects beyond it at its end opposite that to which the finger is detachably secured a sufficient distance to be actuated through suitable connect-ions'withthe gate B. In this instance the bar is operated by a vibrating lever, H, pivoted at h near its upper end to a support, 11, projecting upward from the diebed A. This lever is shown as bent near its upper end, but straight for the remainder and greater portion of its length. It carries at top a roller, h which enters a cam-track or recess, H in an overhanging portion, E of the vertically-sliding gate B. The lower end of the lever works between a stud, F on the bar F and the heel or inner end of a spring-trippin g arm or latch, E. On the advance stroke of the carrier-bar the lever bears against the heel of the bar F2, and on the retracting stroke, against the stud F. This stud serves also as a stop to limit the movement of the bar F. This tripper-bar is pivoted at its heel, so as to be capable of swinging horizontally, by a side projection or lateral lug, f in the forked end of the carrier-bar, and a spring, F secured upon the side of the carrier, bears against this lug. In its normal position the swinging tripper or latch is held straight, or in line with the carrier F but should any obstacle, such as an imperfect link, or-dirt, or other foreign clogging matter, interfere with the free forward movement of the slide or carrier, pressure of the lever upon the heel of the tripper at one side of its pivot sufficient to overcome the spring-pressure throws the tripper round sidewise, and leaves the lever free to move to the usual extent without "moving the slide-bar, and at once prevents injury to the link-feeding mechanism. At the same time the movement of the gate is arrested, and the machiit ery stopped,by the disengagement of a hooked or shouldered rod, H, which hooks at its lower end under a bent arm, h and is connected above in well-known way with clutch mechanism, which controls the connection be.- tween the driving-shaft, through which the gate is moved, and the motive power for revolving the shaft and actuating the press common in such machines, and Well anderstood.

The tripper has ratchet-teeth f upon its edge, which abut, as it swings round, against the hook H and quickly and positively throw it out from the holding-arm W, to at once stop the revolution of the driving-shaft and movement-of the gate, and thus avoid the upward movement of the gate and moves the lower portion of the lever outward, toactnate the slide-bar carrying the link-feeding finger. The full outward movement of the lever (by the movement inward of its upper bent end) is imparted to it, however, before the gate reaches the limit of its upward stroke, and

causes the end of the feeder or push-bar F to just enter slightly into the chamber of the bending-block. To preventthe cam from continuing to operate upon the lever, its roller must be left free, so as to remain stationary during the remainder of this part of the gates stroke. It is also desirable to give a quick and uniform movement to the feeder throughout its advance stroke. I accordingly make a portion of the cam-track (the terminus of its horizontal surface, which the roller moves upon during the finish of the outward swing of the lever) yielding, so that after the lever has been given its full outward swing, it remains for awhile in that posit-ion, while the gate continues to ascend.

A spring, h is fastened at one end to the overhanging arm H of the gate, curved, and then bent horizontally at its opposite end to form the yielding termination h of the cam-track H upon which spring portion of the track the roller moves at and near the end of the movement given the lever H on the upstroke of the press. This spring is strong enough to sustain the inconsiderable pressure upon it of the roller during the timethe feeding mechanism is being operated, and until the requisite swing has been imparted to the lever; but after this time the spring yields as the gate continues to move upward, and the roller, lever, and slidebar remain stationary. The end of the spring bears against and is guided, as it yields and again moves back to its normal position, by a stud, 7L5, projecting downward from the arm H WVhen the gate moves downward the spring resumes its normal position to form the terminating portion of the horizontal part of the cam-track, and the portion h of the track acts on the roller to swing the lever backward and inward, to return the slide-bar of the feeding mechanism in position to repeat its forward movement to feed a fresh link to the bendingblock. Instead of this spring it having the yielding bent end h to form a portion of the cam-track, it is obvious substitutes for this spring might be employed. For instance, that portion of the track shown as formed by the spring end k might be formed by a yielding block capable of sliding downward to the required extent in guide-grooves, and held up,

at the proper time to form the terminating portion of the track, by a spring or springs; or the horizontal portion of the track, or a section of it, might be formed by a pivoted piece held up, when required, by a spring, and allowed to swing down when the roller reaches the end of its inward movement.

By the employment of the spring h h, or equivalent devices, it will be seen that a re ular movement is imparted to, the feedingfinger F, instead of a variable movement, or one slowing up at the end of the advance stroke, such as would be the result of the operation upon the roller h of a vertical track or cam-groove at the termination of the horizontal track. Were the roller operated upon by such a vertical track, a longer time would be required and a larger portion of the upstroke of the press-gate be consumed in giving the requisite movement to the lever, as it would obviously take more time for the roller to traverse in a curved path (long enough to give the requisite movement to the feeder), I

from the horizontal to the vertical part of the track than to travel in a straight line, and be left in proper position upon the spring at the end of the movement imparted to the lever to occupy the vertical ,part of the track on the continued upstroke of the gate.

With a press having a gate of longer stroke than the one shown the spring might be dispensed with; or by a change of the lever-fulcrum, so as to bring it nearer the roller, a more rapid feed might be imparted to the flat links, and the spring also omitted, while still leaving time for the subsequent operations on the upstroke of the gate; but I prefer the spring cam-track, even with a press having a gate of longer and ample stroke, as a guard against accident.

The bendingblock or receptacle G, into which the flat links are fed from the channel a, and in the chamber g of which they are bent or looped together to form the chain, is secured upon the die-bed A, in suitable manner, so as to abut at its receiving end or edge against the die-sections A A with its chamber for the links in line with the feeding-channel, as before explained. The links are turned in their chamber, as already described, and each link, when it enters this chamber, and while flatwise or before turning, is threaded in or passed through the eye or opening of a previously-bent link projecting into the chamher, so as to intersect the path of the flat link,

and subsequently linked in place or connected with said bent link by bending or looping.

The description of suitablemechanism by means of which the required operations are performed upon the links in the bending-block comes next in order but that this part of my invention may more readily be understood, I

will state at this point that the difi'erence between the flare of the bottom of the bendingblock chamber or link-receptacle and that of the bottom of the feed-channel a, which, as before mentioned, is located above the chamfarthest from the dies abuts. -fiXed stop-pin, as shown, anadjustable stud,

her, is equal to half the width of a linkat its ends orwidest parts. 7 The central andnar rowest part of a link is of a width somewhat less thanhalf that of its ends. The eyes or 'end openings. in the links are of the form of center or narrow part of the link. The length of these openings, or their area lengthwiseof the links, is somewhat greater than the width of the ends orwidest parts of the links, and

the width of the openings at their widest parts (next the links ends)'is greater than the width of the central or narrowest part of the link. The flat link, Fig.6, shows this'construction clearly. The link ends are preferably rounded, as shown, :to facilitate their connection or the threading'of the one with another, and the wide ends of the eyes or openin gs made straight from side to side, to afford a firm square hold and strong bearing of one'link ofa chain upon another.

To prevent any movementof the bendingblock away from'the dies, andto hold it in proper position relatively to the finished and partly-finished: chain, a stoppin', g, is provided, against which that end of the block Instead of a provided with a base, and detachablysecured inplace by set-screws, might be employed. At the opposite end of the chamber 9 of the bendingblock to that at which the link first enters is a shoulder, g terminating the chamher, and against which the foremost ends of the links abut when they are fed to their proper position in the chamber. The turningspringf before described, is located close to this shoulder or end of the chamber, as is also the spring f Midway of the length of the bending-block chamber it is intersected by a groove, g, which is formed in one of the side walls of the bending-block, and terminates in the chamber at a right angle to it, and with its bottom in the plane of the bottom of the chamber. This groove is opposite to the central part of a link when one has been fully entered into the chamber in position to be bent at the side of the chamber next the wall of the block opposite to that in which this groove is formed.

A link-bender carrier or endwise-reciproeating thrust-bar, G, is moved back and forth crosswise of the chamber g. It works in the groove 9 which serves as a guideway for it, and prevents sidewise and downward movement from itsproper path. Upward movement of the thrust-bar is prevented by a cappiece or cover, G forming the top of the groove. The thrust-bar is actuated by the gate through a vibrating lever, G acted upon by a cam-track, G, or recess with inclined walls. This lever is pivoted about its center to an upright, I, on the die-bed A, and carries a roller at its upper end to work on the caminclines. Theadvance stroke of the thrust bar to bend a link takes place during the lat 1 .ter part of the downward movement of the I gate, and its advan'cingmovement commences at the time of the finish, or slightly before the finish, of theretracting-stroke of the finger F of the fiat-linkfeeding mechanism; 7

The retraction of the thrust-bar takes place on the first part of the upstroke of the gate, and its retrograde stroke has been nearly or quite completed before the forward movement of the feeder F commences, so that the bend-.

ing-head is out of the way of the link fed into the chamber of the'bending-block. At the latter part of the upstroke of the press the pawl Eoperates the feed-rollers to move along the blank 6, to havea fresh link served to replace theone first fed to the bending-block and keep up the supply of flat links.

7 The bender-head or link-bender proper,

which will more particularly be described hereinafter,is formed at the outer end of the thrustrbar, and the thrust-bar isidetachably and adjustably' connected with a clamping bar or holder, G 7 This holder is formed with a downward projection or bend at its outer end, through which pass two screws g 9 I The screw passes through a smooth hole or tap in the end of the holde'nand enters a female screw or screw-tap in the end of the thrust-bar. When properly adjusted this screw serves to prevent endwise movement of the thrust-bar, such as could otherwisebe'pro duced by a pull. The screw fpasses through a female screw or tap in the end of the holder and abuts against the push-bar, thus serving to preventmovement by end thrust or pushin g strain.

Adjusting set-screws g 9' pass through vertical slots in the holder-bar and enter the thrust-bar. These screws serve to draw the bars together. Upon the under side of the holder is a shoulder, which enters a recess in the top of the thrust-bar. The adjustment of the thrust-bar is thus limited, and may properly be gaged. v

Lugs G G" upon theside of the holder-bar receive between them the lower end of the lever G which, as it is swung in and out, re-

ciprocates the thrust-bar or link-bender, as before explained.

In and extending through the side wall of the bending-block G which forms the boundary of the chamber g on the side opposite that in which the thrust-bar guideway is formed is a bending channel or recess, 1, into which the flat links are forced by the thrust-bar and bending-head from the position in which they are left by the feeding mechanism and turning-springs, before described. This bendingcavity 1', which receives the links as bent, is diametrically opposite the thrust-bar groove g Its bottom is flush with the bottom of the chamber g of the bending-block, or in the horizontal plane of the bottom of this chamber and the bottom of the said groove. It is also in line With a recess or groove, 1 formed in the die-bed of the press, to form a guideway traversed by the chain, as will hereinafter be explained. The bending-cavity is formed so as to aid in bending and shaping the link, as will soon be explained, as shown in various figures of the drawings, but more clearly by Figs. 16 and 17. It is open at top, where, in this instance, it is shown as terminating in or intersecting a recess, '5, in the top surface of the side wall of the bending-block chamber, against the vertical inner side or face of which wall the flat link is presented by its feeding mechanism and adjusting or turning spring From its top downward for a short distance the cavity-walls are vertical, or nearly so, a at 2. This vertical portion of the cavity is comparatively narrow and shallow. The width of the cavity at this point-that is, between the ledges constituting the bottom of the top recess z"is about four times the thickness of the link, or a little more or less than this. Beneath this narrow portion of the bendingcavity its walls diverge or incline outward toward the central and widest portion 2' of the cavity, which has vertical walls, and is of a width much greater than that of the top part z' sa'y, between two and three times as wide. This central porton of the cavity is to receive and accommodate the enlarged bowed or looped ends of the links, as will be explained at the proper time. From the central widened portion of the cavity it is contracted toward the bottom in the same manner as it is contracted toward the top from the center, and at the bottom i it is narrow, and formed about as at top, except that its bottom does not terminate in an opening. In cross-section the cavity may be said to be somewhat of an octagonal shape. The depth of the cavity from the top edges of its vertical walls 6 to its bottom is about equal to, or it may be very slightly greater than, the width of alink at its ends or widest portions; or, in other words, a link placed on one edge on the bottom of the cavity will project slightly at its top edge, at its widest part, into the top opening, or between the vertical walls 2' of the cavity. Only at and very near the ends, however, does the link project into the top portion of the cavity, or that portion between the walls The link, it should be observed, is inclined, or tapers on its edges from the rounded widened ends both ways, or from both ends toward the narrow central part, which is formed into a rounded bow or loop after being passed through the eyes or end openings of a previously-bent link.

The bender proper, or head J of the thrust bar or carrier G, is formed with a wide thin end or point, J '5 is shouldered near its end for a short distance from the top by narrow ribs or side ledges J beneath which, at the sides of the head, are secured spring-plates J the outer ends of which project a little beyond the end J of the bar G", and form, on each side thereof, strong lips j j, which are sufficiently yielding to prevent their accidental breakage should the link end fail to give, as

will be described hereinafter. These springs are detachably secured, near their rear ends, in suitable recesses at the sides of the thrustbar, and abut firmly at their rear against shoulders thereon. The upper part of theend or thin portion J of the bender-head J works on the advance stroke of the thrust-bar between the top walls 2' of the bending-cavity I, while the spring-lips work in the wide or central portion of the cavity. These lips are shown as beveled on their top and bottom edges, and so formed otherwise as to adapt them to work properly in the cavity. The spring-plates are also shown as recessed or thinned. away between the lips and screw which attaches them to the thrust-bar, to give them the requisite spring.

The bending of the flat links in the bendingblock is accomplished by the bending-head, in connection with the bending-cavity, in the following manner: Thelink last bent by the previous advance strokeof the bending-head, and then slightly drawn back by it on the first part of its retracting stroke, in the manner presently to be explained, so as to partially project from the cavity into the chamber g, with its sides or broad surfaces vertical and intersecting at right angles the path traversed by the flat links, as shown by Figs. 7 and 8, has the fiat link passed or threaded through its eyes or openings by the feeder F, and is partially turnedsay, to an angle of about fortytive degrees, as before described. The thrust-bar G is now advanced, bringing the bending-head J against the flat link, the turning of which to bring it flat against the inner side of the wall of the bendingblock in which the bending-cavity is formed is first completed by the pull of the chain or previously-connected link, as hereinafter explained (see Fig. 9,) and then, by the continued advance of the bending-head, its lips j are caused to embrace the ends of the last-bent link, and its pointJ to bear against said ends. The flat link is now forced into the bendingcavity and bent or formed into a loop, and thus connected with the previously-bent link.

It should be noticed that the ends of a link thus bent into a U shape have a tendency to separate or spring apart.

Should the lips j of the bending-head abut against instead of embrace the ends of the bent link when first coming in contact with them on the advance stroke, these ends will,

nevertheless, soon be inclosed by the lips,

which should be slightly beveled in the inner sides of their ends; for the link,,when forced into the bending cavity has its ends brought nearer together by their contact with the walls of the narrow top and bottom portions 1" i of the cavity, and the lips are thus caused with certainty to embrace the link ends and bear against the link to be bent while the point J 1 bears upon the ends of the already-bent link embraced by the lips.

The narrow portion of the link, at the point where it is doubled or bent, does not come its ends with the spring-lips, or rather by the griping or clamping of the link ends on the springs. This leaves the eyes or openings in the last bent link in position to receive the fiat link next fed forward into the bendingblock chamber.

It is obvious that, should anything get between the ends of the bent link, the breakage of the lips j (which would, if they were rigid, be the result of forcing them over these ends) is avoided by the yielding of the lips to accommodate themselves to the increased distance apart of the link ends, or their failure to yield properly.

On the finish of the upward movement of the gate B the connected and partially-finished, as well as the finished, links of the chain are fed forward a short distance in a path at right angles to that traversed bythe fiat links. This feed of the chain takes place just after a fiat link has been threaded with or passed through the eyes or openings of a previouslybent link, and the pull of the chain leaves the fiatlink resting on edge in the bendingblock,

. or channel I to the feeding mechanism, which operates intermittingly to give the necessary pull upon the connected links, and carries forward the finished chain.

The partially-finished connected links ar thus brought in turn to be operated upon by suitable devices (soon to be described) for first compressing the links sidewise to bring their ends close together, finish the bending of them, and properly form their loops or bows, and then to upset, compress, or crush the links endwise to destroy the separating spring of the metal and the tendency of the links to open or spread at and near their ends.

During the time that a link is being finished its retrograde movement is prevented by a stop or holder, formed by a loosely-swinging arm, K, shown as pivoted at one end to the cover or cap-piece Gr of the thrust-bar guideway 9 and provided at its opposite end with a nose, It, which fits in the loop or between the sides of one link, and serves as afirm support for the ends of the link next in advance. This arm moves vertically directly over the chainway I, and is borne upon by a spring, K, the

pressure of which gives a tendency to the arm to assume and occupy the position clearly shown in Figs. 8, l0, and 12. The rear edge of the nose is made thin, so that it may descend into the link-loop or between the links sides, and its end or bearing-face is so formed as to afford a firm support for the ends of the link to be finished and resist end thrust thereof. As the chain is fed forward the links behind the nose in turn act upon its curved or inclined rear edge and lift it, the spring K yielding to allow of the proper upward movement of the arm. A short swinging arm or pawl, K is pivoted at one end to the arm K, and swings in the plane of movement thereof. This pawl serves as a stop to gage the retrograde movement of the last-formed link as it is drawn back bythe griper-lips of the bendin g-head, as before explained. It is borne upon by a spring, 70, attached at one end to the arm K. On the forward movement of the chain and interlooped links the pawl is moved upward by the contact therewith of the links, and. slides over them, its spring yielding to allow of this movement; and upon the return movement of the links, when drawn back by the bender-head, the pawl at the proper time drops between. the sides or into the loop of a link, releases the one last bent from the springlips j, and holds it against too great rearward movement by abutting against the bent endof next to the last link, (see Fig. 8,) stopping it and the last link in the proper position to have the flat link threaded in the eyes of the lastbent link, as already explained. Obviously the bender might be so operated as to force a link into the bending-cavity just far enough to bring the bent link in the exact position for the threading through its eyes of the next flat link, and any withdrawal or retrograde movement of the link be prevented by a suitable stop, so constructed and operated as not to require the slight backward movementnecessary to cause the pawl K to act.

The pressing together of the link ends and formation of the bow (see Fig. 11) is accomplished by a reciprocating compressor-bar, L, operating in connection with a supporting block or anvil, L. The anvil is located on one side of the path of the chain, and the bar moves toward and against the link from the opposite side, being guided and supported in its movements in a recess in the die-bed. The

link durin this 0 )eration is held in the ro Jer a a l a position by the nose It. The compressor-bar 1s operated by the gate B during the first part of its downstroke through suitable connections, which, in this instance, consist of a vertical vibrating lever, M, pivoted at m to a standard, H, of the die-bed A. The lower end of the lever is connected with the reciprocating comthe upper end of the lever to rock it outward,

and throw in its lower end to advance the compressor. A cam or incline, m against which the lever is forced inward at top by the spring, and which serves to rock it, as above described, admits of the retraction of the compressor a little before the completion of the upstroke of the gate, and at this moment the feed or pull of the chain takes place.

The upsetting of the links by compressing or slightly crushing them endwise, to finish them and destroy the tendency of the links to separate or spring apart at their ends, takes place at the finish of the downward stroke of the gate. Mechanism for accomplishing the result desired is shown in this instance as consisting of a swinging arm or compressor-lever, N, having a curved nose or bill-hook, N, at its end, which is shaped to fit snugly around the head or loop of a link. (See Fig. 11.)

This compressor-lever has the movement imparted to it necessary to bring it into its operative position and retract it from the gate through connections with the endwise-moving bar L, for compressing the links sidewise at their ends. A swing-arm or carrier, 0, for the compressor-lever is pivoted at its inner end 0 to the die-bed, and the lever is supported by a pivot, 0 at the opposite end of the arm. A stud, P, on the barL works in an elongated slot in the carrier, and set-screws pp, working in the carrier at each side of the slot, and bearing at their inner ends against, or nearly against, the stud in the slot, serve to adjust the carrier to regulate the movements of the compressor-lever, should it be necessary to do so, as well as to compensate wear.

A spring, P secured at one end to the outer end of the carrier 0, bears at its opposite end against the rear or outer end of the compressorlever with a tendency to keep the lever against a stop, 12, 011 the carrier until its nose enters the eyes of the link immediately in advance of the link being acted upon by the reciprocatin g or sidewise compressor L, and rests against the bow end of the link held by said bar against the anvil. At this time the link to be compressed is supported at the opposite end by the nose k of the holder or swinging arm K, as before described. In its normal position the eompressinglever bears against this stop; but when its nose N is advanced or forced against the link in upsetting, the lever moves slightly away from the stop, its spring yielding to enable it to do so. The main function of this spring is to hold the lever with its nose in the proper position for adjustment in the eyes or end openings of a link previous to the time that the crushing force is exerted upon the link. Soon after the commencement of the downward movement of the gate the compressin g-lever begins to swing inward, and this movement continues.

Near the finish of the downward movement of the gate the compressor-lever is struck near its nose by a moving part of the mechanism,

(soon to be described,) and the compression of the link endwise to complete it takes place,

.and engaging with the ratchet.

and the link is finished at the end of the downstroke of the gate. The compressing-lever is withdrawn near the finish of the upward stroke of the gate.

The chain-feeding mechanism, which is operated through connections with the gate at the end of its upstroke, is shown as consisting of a sprocket-wheel, Q, the teeth of which are ratchet-shaped or straight on one edge, so as to act on the chain by entering the link eyes or openings to draw it forward as the wheel is revolved, and inclined on the other edge, which sprocket-wheel is mounted on a bracket or projecting portion, Q, of the diebed, and is intermittingly and partially revolved at intervals about its axis Q by means of a ratchet-wheel, Q revolving about the same axis, and to which the sprocket-wheel is adj ustably attached by set-screws Q passing through elongated slots in the sprocket-wheel This ratchet is engaged by a pawl, R, and operated at the proper time through means of a bell-crank or elbow-lever, R, and a vertically-vibrating lever, S. The bellcrank lever swings horizontally on a pivot, R secured to the die-bed or bracket Q} thereof, and at its outer end is pinjointed. to the pawl R. A spring, T, connected at its opposite ends to the lever and pawl, respectively, keeps the pawl up to its work. A detent hook or pawl, U, engages with the ratchet, to prevent injurious backward movement thereof. This detent is borne against by a spring, U, to keep it up to the ratchet.

The lower end of the lever S moves close to or bears against the inner side or edge of the short arm or inner end of the elbow-lever; and a hook, s, pivoted to the lower end of the actuating-lever S, engages the inner end of the elbow lever.

vertical displacement of which is prevented by the overhanging lip or lug T on the elbowlever. On the reverse or outwardmovement of the lever S, its end, bearing directly against the elbow-lever, moves it correspondingly. This latter-movement causes the feed-wheel 2 to partially rotate by the operation of the pawl R upon the ratchet Q while the movement imparted to the pawl at the time the hook s is operated moves the pawl forward for a repetition of this feeding movement. The chain, as it is drawn out by the feeding mechanism, passes, by way of a suitable channel or deflecting-guide, T to a proper receptacle beneath the die-bed of the press.-

The lever S is bent or provided with an inclined arm, S, at its upper end, and this arm is struck at and just before the end of the upstroke of the gate B by an adjustable screw or stud, w, on a short inwardly-projecting arm or lug, W, carried by the gate, and the lever thus vibrated. On the downstroke this arm NV moves close to or in contact with the outer edge of the lever, and starts to move it As the lever S is vibrated to move it inward at its lower ,end the lever R: is drawn after it by the hook s, the accidental 

